Information card selection and retrieval method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

The selection and retrieval of information cards is facilitated by tilting a cassette containing a number of cards forwardly to a position in which the cards are inclined, with their coded edges facing downwardly. Selector bars cooperate with notches in the coded edges of the cards such that only the card whose notches correspond to selector bars that are in their ON position can be partly pulled out of the cassette. Selector magnets are then brought against the coded edges of the cards and are moved away to partly pull out of the cassette only the card which is not prevented from moving by the selector bars. Since the selected card is moving obliquely downwardly, its frictional drag against the other cards in the cassette is very low. The result is that the cassette can contain a greater number of cards than in the prior art, the selection magnets can have lower strength, and reliability is enhanced.

United States Patent Yanagawa [111 3,866,755 [4 1 Feb. 18,1975

INFORMATION CARD SELECTION AND RETRIEVAL METHOD AND APPARATUS Primary ExaminerAllen N. Knowles Attorney, Agent, or FirmCooper, Dunham, Clark Griffin & Moran [57] ABSTRACT The selection and retrieval of information cards is facilitated by tilting a cassette containing a number of cards forwardly to a position in which the cards are inclined, with their coded edges facing downwardly. Selector bars cooperate with notches in the coded edges of the cards such that only the card whose notches correspond to selector bars that are in their ON position can be partly pulled out of the cassette. Selector magnets are then brought against the coded edges of the cards and are moved away to partly pull out of the cassette only the card which is not prevented from moving by the selector bars. Since the selected card is moving obliquely downwardly, its frictional drag against the other cards in the cassette is very low. The result is that the cassette can contain a greater number of cards than in the prior art, the selection magnets can have lower strength, and reliability is enhanced.

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1 INFORMATION CARD SELECTION AND RETRIEVAL METHOD AND APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention is directed to a method of and an apparatus for electromechanically selecting and retrieving information cards.

Information cards are commonly filed in a file case either horizontally lying on their sides in a stack, or vertically, like the pages of an upstanding book. When the cards are horizontal, in a stack, it is convenient to return processed cards to the file case because one has only to place the processed cards on top of the stack of cards in the file case. Additionally, the cards recently processed are in the upper part of the stack, so that one can readily retrieve the most often used information cards by looking only through the information cards in the upper part of the stack and not through all the cards in the file case. When the cards are arranged vertically, side-by-side, a search has to be performed with respect to all the cards even if the desired cards are those which have recently been processed.

Thus. the system of stacking the information cards horizontally offers an advantage in that the cards are easier to handle. However, some disadvantages are associated with prior art systems of this type. One of them is the weight of the cards in the upper part of the file. When it is desired to retrieve cards in the lowermost part of the file, a magnet of great attracting force is required (if the retrieval apparatus used a magnet), because of the weight of the cards above it, and the resulting very high frictional drag. Since there are limits to the magnetic force of a magnet, there is a limit on the number of cards that can be contained in a file case if selection and withdrawal of the desired information cards is to be performed reliably, with the result that the number of information cards that can be in a file case is limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide an information card selection and retrieval method and an apparatus therefor which are applicable to cassettes in which the cards are stored horizontally, and which permit desired cards to be withdrawn from the cassette readily and positively without the weight of the cards disposed in the upper part of the stack affecting adversely the selection of the cards disposed in the lower part thereof.

This object is accomplished by using a tray mounting a cassette thereon which is supported for vertical pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and is inclined forwardly when a card is to be withdrawn from the file. The edges of the cards which face downwardly in this position of the tray have coding notches and magnetic portions. Selection magnets are then moved toward the magnetic portions of the cards, while the tray is in the forwardly inclined position, and are then moved away from the cards so as to pull out a selected card obliquely downwardly of the cassette, whereby the card can be pulled out of the cassette by a relatively weak magnetic force by virtue of the fact that the weight of the cards disposed above the desired card exerts on the selected card a force tending to push the card out of the cassette rather than acting as a frictional force deterring the movement of the desired card. The desired card is selected by a plurality of selector bars disposed in a position in which they are juxtaposed against the notched edges of cards disposed in the inclined position, and a code number instructing device brings the selector bars to ON and OFF positions according to the code number of the desired card, so that the selection magnets moving toward and away from the cards pull out'by a small distance only the card whose number, as

encoded in notches, agrees with the arrangement of the selector bars in the ON and OFF positions, while the rest of the cards are prevented by the selector bars that are in the ON position from being pulled out of the eassette.

After .the desired card is selected and retrieved. the tray is restored to its original position, and the card selected and separated from the rest of the cards is removed mechanically or manually from the apparatus for further processing.

This invention offers advantages in that it is possible to increase the number of information cards in a cassette of the type in which the cards are stacked horizontally. Selection and retrieval of the desired cards can be carried out with a high degree of efficiency. The desired cards can be withdrawn from the cassette positively irrespective of the position in which such cards are disposed in the pile of information cards.

Additional and other objects and'features of the invention will become evident from the description set forth hereinafter when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an apparatus embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cassette containing cards.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tray for the cassette of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the tray.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 shows a transmission means incorporated in the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cam shaft and holddown rollers incorporated in the FIG. 1 apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of guide members.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a pull-out lever.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a spring clutch.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of selector bars.

FIG. 12 shows spring clutch operating means all forming a part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 13a to FIG. 132 are views in explanation of the operation of the guide members of FIG. 8.

FIG. 14a to FIG. 14c are views in explanation of the operation of feed members and card feed rollers forming a part of the FIG. 1 apparatus.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an electrical control circuit for the FIG. 1 apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. I shows a card selection and retrieval apparatus according to the invention. The apparatus comprises a cassette chamber A having mounted therein a cassette 2 containing a large number of information cards I stacked in a pile therein as shown in FIG. 2 and adapted to move in pivotal movement, and an operation chamher B having mounted therein mechanisms for selection and retrieval of desired cards 1.

In the cassette chamber A, a tray 3 having mounted thereon the cassette 2 as shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 is pivotally supported by a support shaft 5 secured to a side wall 4a and a partition wall 4h ofa frame 4 as seen. In FIG. 3, a segmental gear' 6 is affixed to one side wall of the tray 3 and is maintained in meshing engagement with a pinion 7 firmly mounted on an output shaft of a reversible motor 8 affixed to the apparatus frame 4. The tray 3 is moved in vertical pivotal movement about the support shaft 5 by the reversible motor 8.

An actuating pin 9 is affixed to the other side wall of the tray 3 and extends through a circularly arcuate slot 10 formed in the side wall 4a of the frame 4 and centered on the axis of the support shaft 5. The actuating pin 9 is adapted to actuate limit switches T5 TS and T5 affixed to the frame 4. Each limit switch is affixed to the frame 4 in a position which is suitable for detecting one of the predetermined positions of the tray 3 to which the tray 3 moves in pivotal movement. For example, these limit switches may be three in number, as shown in FIG. 3 and may comprise an uppermost position switch TSl, a lowermost position switch TS2 and a card withdrawing position switch TS3. As shown in FIG. 4, key openings 2a are formed in the bottom of the cassette 2, while pins 3a are affixed to the tray in positions to register with openings 2a.

By inserting the pins 3a in the key openings 2a, it is possible to correctly position the cassette 2 on the tray 3 and to prevent dislodging the cassette 2 from the tray 3 when the tray moves into an inclined position.

As seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the operation chamber B houses a reversible selection motor 11 for operating the retrieval mechanisms. The motor 11 is affixed to a side wall 40 of the frame 4. Threadably connected to an output shaft of the motor 11 is a pinion 12 which is maintained in meshing engagement with a gear 14 affixed to feed roller shaft 13 that is rotatably supported by the frame 4 through suitable bearings and with a gear 17 supported through a one-way clutch 16 by a shaft rotatably supported by the frame 4.

The gear 14 driven by the pinion 12 and its rotation is transmitted through a gear 18 affixed to the feed roller shaft 13, a gear 19 meshing with gear 18, a gear 20 rotating with gear 19 as a unit, and an idling gear 21 meshing with gear 20, to a gear 22 meshing with idle gear 21. Gears 19 and 20 are rotatably supported by a shaft 23 affixed to the frame 4, idling gear 21 is rotatably supported by a shaft 24 attached to the frame 4 and gear 22 is rotatably supported by a card feed shaft 25.

As shown in FIG. 7, the card feed shaft 25 is rotatably supported by the frame 4 and has affixed thereto by cap screws 27 a plurality of feed members 26 each of which is disposed in a position corresponding to one of the two lugs 1a formed at opposite ends of each information card 1. By loosening the cap screws 27, it is possible to adjust the axial positions of the feed members 26 as desired. Clutch means 28 is mounted on the feed shaft 25.

As shown in FIG. 5, the clutch means 28 comprises a clutch cam 29 affixed to the feed shaft 25, the gear 22 pressing against the clutch cam 29 through a friction ring 30, a keep plate 32 pressing against the gear 22 through a friction ring 31, a pressing spring 33 seated against the keep plate 32, and an adjusting plate 34 threaded into the card feed shaft 25 and serving as a seat for the pressing spring 33. Each of the rings and 31 may be a coil ring. By adjusting the amount of threadable engagement of the plate 34 with the card 5 feed shaft 25, it is possible to adjust the pressing force exerted by the pressing spring 33. The keep plate 32 is keyed onto a cutout flat portion 25a of the shaft 25 so it is free to move axially of the shaft 25 but is kept from rotating relative to the shaft 25.

As shown in FIG. 7, the clutch cam 29 comprises a minor diameter circularly arcuate portion 290 whose arc corresponds to the pivoting angle of the feed members 26, and a major diameter circularly arcuate portion 29!; forming the rest of the circumference. Notches 29c, 29d are formed in the boundaries between the minor diameter circularly arcuate portion 29a and the major diameter circularly arcuate portion 29!). A cam stopper 36 pivotally supported by a pin 35 connected to the frame 4 includes a horizontal member 36a receivable in the notches 29c and 29d. The cam stopper 36 also includes a free end portion which pivotally supports the plunger ofa solenoid 37. The horizontal member 36a is normally inserted in the notch 290 of the clutch cam 29 to maintain the clutch cam 29 stationary.

The rotation of the pinion 12 rotates the gear 22 of the clutch means 28. However, since the clutch cam 29 is kept stationary by the cam stopper 36, the shaft 25 remains immovable, because rotation of the gear 22 is not transmitted, although slip occurs between the gear 22 and the coil ring 30 and between the coil ring 30 and the clutch cam 29. At this time, the solenoid 37 is energized by a signal from a card detector described subsequently, and the card stopper 36 is pulled toward the solenoid 37. This releases the horizontal member 36a of the cam stopper 36 from engagement in the notch 29c, so that the cam clutch 29 is free to operate. After being energized for a short time interval, the solenoid 37 is de-energized and the horizontal member 36a of the cam stopper 36 is restored to its original position, so that the member 36a is brought into pressing engagement with the edge of the minor diameter circularly arcuate portion 29a.

As soon as the horizontal member 36a is released from engagement in the notch 29c, the clutch cam 29 rotates together with the rotating gear 22 because of the frictional dragging applied to the clutch cam 29 by the friction ring 30 which is pressed by the spring 33. After the clutch cam 29 or the shaft 25 has rotated through a predetermined angle, the horizontal member 3611 of the cam stopper 36 moving in sliding motion along the edge of the minor diameter circularly arcuate portion 29a is brought into engagement in the other notch 29d, thereby interrupting the rotation of the clutch cam 29. The shaft 25 stops rotating at this time.

After a predetermined operation is performed, the motor 11 is rotated in the opposite direction and the solenoid 37 is energized. Upon energization of the solenoid 37, the clutch cam 29 is rotated in the opposite direction and the shaft 25 rotates until the horizontal member 36a of the cam stopper 36 is brought into engagement in the notch 29 again. Thus, the card feed members 26 move in pivotal movement through a predetermined angle to pull out the cards as described below and then the card feed members 26 move back in pivotal movement through the same angle to return the cards to a stand-by position as the shaft 25 rotates 

1. An information card selection and retrieval apparatus comprising: a cassette for containing a stack of information cards each having an edge coded with at least one notch and containing magnetic material, the coded edges of the cards facing in the same direction and protruding from the cassette; a tray for fixedly mounting the cassette and means for moving the tray pivotally about an axis parallel to the coded edges of the cards between a lowermost position at which the coded edges of the cards are at a lowermost position and are substantially lower than the opposite edges thereof and upper positions; a plurality of selector bars disposed to face the coded edges of the cards in the lowermost position of the tray, each selector bar movable between an ON position to abut said coded edges and an OFF position away from the coded edges, each selector bar being narrower than a notch; settable means for disposing at least one selector bar in its ON position; selector magnet means and means for moving the magnet means against the coded edges of the cards while the tray is in its lowermost position to couple magnetically with the magnetic material of the cards and for subsequently moving the magnet means away from the cassette to thereby move therewith to a selected position partly out of the cassette each card whose notch coding is registered with said at least one selector bar in the ON position while the other cards are prevented from such movement by the lack of registration between their notch coding and the at least one selector bar in the ON position; means for subsequently pivoting the tray upwardly; and means for engaging each selected card in the selected position to withdraw it further from the cassette.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 including means for locking said at least one selector bar that is in its ON position prior to the movement of the selector magnet means away from the cassette.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein each selector bar has a lock groove and wherein the means for locking selector bars in their ON position comprises: a plurality of lock members having an edge receivable in said lock grooves; and means for moving said lock members to engage said lock grooves of any selector bar in the ON position and to thereby lock any selector bar in the ON position prior to moving said magnet means away from the cassette.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said locking means is actuated in response to the tray reaching its lowermost position while moving thereto from an upper position.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the means for moving the magnet means is actuated subsequently to the actuation of the means for locking the selector bars.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the means for moving the tray upwardly from its lowermost position is actuated subsequently to the movement of the magnet means away from the cassette.
 7. Apparatus as in claim 6 including means for stopping the tray at a selected upper position and means for withdrawing the selected card further from the cassette while the tray is stopped at said selected upper position.
 8. An information card selected and retrieval apparatus having a cassette for containing a stack of information cards each having an edge coded with at least one notch and containing magnetic material, the coded edges of the cards facing in the same direction and protruding from the cassette, a plurality of selector bars disposed to face the coded edges of the cards, each selector bar movable between an ON position to abut said coded edges and an OFF position away from the coded edges and each being narrower than a notch, settable means for disposing at least one selector bar in its ON position and selector magnet means and means for moving the magnet means against the coded edges of the cards while the tray is in its lowermost position to couple magnetically with the magnetic material of the cards and for subsequently moving the magnet means away from the cassette to thereby move therewith to a selected position partly out of the cassette each card whose notch coding is registered with said at least one selector bar in the ON position while the other cards are prevented from such movement by the lack of registration between their notch coding and the at least one selector bar in the ON position, wherein the improvement comprises: a tray for fixedly mounting the cassette and means for moving the tray pivotally about an axis parallel to the coded edges of the cards between a lowermost position at which the coded edges of the cards are at a lowermost position and are substantially lower than the opposite edges thereof and upper positions; means for disposing the selector bars in the ON positions to abut the coded edges of the cards while the tray is in its lowermost position; and means for moving the magnet means against the coded edges of the cards and away from the cassette while the tray is in its lowermost position, to thereby reduce the frictional drag of a card which is being withdrawn from the cassette as compared to a card withdrawn from a horizontal cassette.
 9. Apparatus as in claim 8 including means for locking the selector bars that are in their ON positions prior to moving the magnet means away from the cassette.
 10. Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the locking means is actuated to lock the selector bars upon the tray reaching its lowermost position.
 11. Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the means for moving the magnet means is actuated subsequently to the actuation of the means for locking the selector bars.
 12. Apparatus as in claim 11 including means for moving the tray upwardly, and means for actuating the last recited means subsequently to the movement of the magnet means away from the cassette.
 13. Apparatus as in claim 12 including means for stopping the tray at a selected upper position and means for withdrawing the selected card further from the cassette while the tray is stopped at said selected upper position.
 14. A method of operating an information card selection and retrieval apparatus having a cassette for containing a stack of information cards each having an edge coded with at least one notch and containing magnetic material, the coded edges of the card facing in the same direction and protruding from the cassette, a plurality of selector bars disposed to face the coded edges of the cards, each selector bar movable between an ON position to abut said coded edges and an OFF position away from the coded edges and each being narrower than a notch, settable means for disposing at least one selector bar in it ON position and selector magnet means and means for moving the magnet means against the coded edges of the cards to couple magnetically with the magnetic material of the cards and for subsequently moving the magnet means away from the cassette to thereby move therewith to a selected position partly out of the cassette each card whose notch coding is registered with said at least one selector bar in the ON position while the other cards are prevented from such movement by the lack of registration between their notch coding and the at least one selector bar in the ON position, wherein the improvement comprises the steps of: moving the tray pivotally about an axis parallel to the coded edges of the cards between a lowermost position at which the coded edges of the cards are at a lowermost position and are substantially lower than the opposite edges thereof and upper positions; disposing the selector bars that are in their ON positions to abut the coded edges of the cards while the tray is in its lowermost position; and moving the magnet means against the coded edges of the cards and away from the cassette while the tray is in its lowermost position, to thereby reduce the frictional drag of a card which is being withdrawn from the cassette as compared to the drag present when a horizontal card is withdrawn from a horizontal cassette.
 15. A method as in claim 14 including the step of locking the selector bars that are in their ON positions prior to moving the magnet means away from the cassette. 